Boko Haram burns trucks, official vehicles in Yobe

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly destroyed four vehicles, including trucks, one of which was laden with goods worth millions of naira, during an early morning attack on Geidam town in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State.

According to residents of the affected community, the insurgents infiltrated the town at about 4:30 am on Friday while most people were asleep and set vehicles parked in front of the Geidam Local Government Secretariat ablaze.

A resident said the attackers first targeted the secretariat, where they burnt a Toyota Hilux and a Sharon bus belonging to the local government.

“As they were leaving the secretariat, they came across two trucks. One of them was loaded with goods worth millions of naira belonging to traders who attended the Geidam weekly market,” the source said.

“The traders had loaded their goods and were waiting until morning to begin their journey home. The insurgents set the truck and all the goods on fire. Nothing was taken.”

The source added that the attackers also burnt another articulated vehicle parked within the market premises, bringing the total number of vehicles destroyed to four.

Another resident said the insurgents appeared to have changed their mode of operation by abandoning motorcycles before entering the town on foot, apparently to avoid attracting the attention of security forces.

“In the past, they usually rode motorcycles into the town, but now they park them outside and move in on foot. They knew exactly where they were going. They headed straight to the secretariat, burnt two official vehicles and later set two trucks ablaze, including one carrying goods,” the resident said.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government, the Yobe State Government and security agencies to strengthen security by providing personnel with the equipment and support needed to tackle the insurgents effectively,” the resident added.

The spokesperson for the Yobe State Police Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident.